Thanks to Ali for leaving this link on MPS. Hugs
The writer’s critically acclaimed memoir has become a flashpoint in a small South Carolina town.
Brooke Leigh Howard
Updated Jul. 19, 2023 2:14PM EDT / Published Jul. 18, 2023 1:04PM EDT
A South Carolina school board meeting, in which community members railed against an African American culture writer’s award-winning memoir about racial injustice, featured a special guest appearance: Ta-Nehisi Coates, the famed author in question.
On Monday evening, the Lexington-Richland District 5 School Board met to discuss the outrage concerning Coates’ 2015 nonfiction bestseller, Between the World and Me, which has repeatedly caused political literary mayhem among reactionary right-wing communities and been placed on book ban lists.
In February, after getting approval from higher-ups, an AP Language teacher at Chapin High School conducted a lesson involving Between the World and Me. The book, written as an essay to Coates’ son to prepare him for the life he will live as a Black man, details personal accounts of Coates’ life and his first-hand experiences with racism. However, the lesson was shut down and the book was removed from the course after students filed a complaint claiming the book made them feel “guilty for being white,” local news outlet CBS 19 Columbia reported.
According to footage obtained by CBS 19, a slew of people wearing blue rallied in support for the book and for academic freedom during the board hearing. And Coates sat in the back of the room next to the teacher who assigned the book as a sign of solidarity.
“What matters most to me is that my students have the ability to hear six or seven opinions on one topic and come up with their own thesis, supported with evidence, and come up with an independent conclusion,” said Superintendent Dr. Akil Ross. “Sometimes there’s going to be topics you agree with, and there’s going to be topics you disagree with. Academic freedom says even if you disagree, there’ll be another opinion presented to our children. Our democracy needs that.”
PEN America, a literary human-rights organization, called the book’s removal “an outrageous act of government censorship and a textbook example of how educational gag orders corrupt free inquiry in the classroom.”
“We cannot become critical thinkers without being uncomfortable in some way,” one student declared while directly addressing the Lexington-Richland board. “If students can’t learn these things in a safe space, like school, how are they—we—meant to make good decisions and think critically?”
The board did not conduct a vote after public discussion.
In a statement to The Daily Beast, Lexington-Richmond District 5 wrote that it is “important to understand” that Between the World and Me “is not banned in our school district.”
“Superintendent Ross is committed to providing additional training on how to use books like Between the World and Me,” said communications director Amanda Taylor, referring to International Baccalaureate courses and policies on teaching about controversial and sensitive issues. “This training will cover how to determine if the material is appropriate for the course and the maturity of the students. District administration will also provide training to ensure materials are based on state standards and protect the academic freedom of the students.”
Coates did not respond to The Daily Beast’s request for comment on Tuesday.
Scottie's Playtime 
Thanks, Scottie! I’m sorry about not bringing it here, too; I’d intended to, but the past 3 evenings the desktop puter has shut itself down, and I haven’t gotten back to what was up. Either the puter thinks it’s too hot (fans are running and I blow it out regularly,) or it’s in death throes. It’s a nice big gaming puter the kid built for himself in 2014, and we appreciate he just gave it to us, but he reminds us it is old.
I also had a couple up last night to put here; I forgot what one was, but the other is https://daily.jstor.org/delts-dont-lie/ . It’s interesting and Playtime pertinent adjacent, and also has beautiful art.
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Hello Ali. It is OK, really. I am feeling better with the allergy treatments and the new heart / blood pressure medications. I am not out of the woods and still have the breathing issues but they have lessened. All that means I have enough energy to go to the many web pages I love. I am not getting as much posted as I like, and I am not getting as much news read as I want to. Yesterday was a complete waste as far as all that goes. And today I have another doctor’s appointment, so that will mean less time on the computers. Sorry to hear about your computer shutting down. Do you feel comfortable opening the case and taking the fan off the processor to clean that and the shunt? Also the graphics cars create a lot of heat so I take mine out, take the fans off and clean it all up. Maybe your son could do a good clean on it for you. I know you blow it out, but fine dust particles can still get in and collect around the shunts and fans. Especially if you have pets. I do mine about every 6 months. Thanks for the link. Hugs
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Not sure this fits here … but my last two computers have been “All-In-One” and I haven’t had any problems with either of them. In fact, my older one is my backup computer (Windows 7) and still running great. I upgraded because it started running slower and slower. Personally, I’ve never cared for those that have the separate “box” — but to each his own.
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Hello Nan. All in ones can be useful in small places but tend to be more expensive at purchase for less, and if one part goes it is much more costly and harder to fix. Like laptops, the idea behind both is similar. The best way to keep a computer pretty dust / hair free is to have it off the floor. When possible, I try to elevate my towers. In my old office, the plan was to build or get side wings on my desk for them. Too many other things happened before it could be done and then Ian opened my office roof like a giant can opener And they have to be on the floor right now due to me being in the living room. However, when I get my new office soon, we plan to elevate them. But I will still clean them occasionally, just as I still dump them occasionally. Hugs
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I’m not sure why you would say the All-In-Ones are “useful in small places.” My screen is 21″ and the body itself is 22-1/2″. Hardly laptop size. 😉 Of course, I’m aware that some “regular” computer monitors are much larger (most likely yours!) … but for average use, this size is perfect. And while you’re probably correct that this type of computer is harder to fix, I’m not a computer builder/fixer like you, so that’s a moot point. The only “problem” I might have is that I wouldn’t be able to hook up another tower during repairs. But I have a laptop!! 😁
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Hello Nan. My comment about smaller places is if people don’t have room to set up separate components or want to have connecting wires that most often can be seen. All in one computer’s take up less room as they are the size of the screen and slightly thicker than a regular flat monitor so no need for a separate spot to house the tower. As Ali said, her computer tower doesn’t fit in the spot for it on her desk. Hugs
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That’s another thing; I need to find a way to elevate this one. It’s bigger than our previous desktop, and doesn’t fit inside the puter desk area-for-the-tower-place. So, it sets next to the desk. On the floor. Our current doggie is so very hairy, and sheds constantly. Twice a day, I could make her a sister from the hair I sweep up! 😄🐕
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I’ll ask him to do that! I try, when I blow it out since the case is open, but I probably don’t get it well enough. He built it in 2012.
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That’s what the kid did for me tonight! I had no idea there were fans on that processor; he took it out and showed me. He even took out the CPU, cleaned it up, and got some thermal paste from his bag of tricks and put some on before he put it back in. He said the last time we got it serviced, even though they replaced the CPU, they used no thermal paste. Every thing seems to be very smooth, now, running better, and I cleaned up all the hairy dust bunnies. Thanks!
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(Oh, yeah; I checked with him about the year he built it; that’s why I said 2 different years.)
I’m not proud of him, or anything … 😉💖😄🖥😄🖖
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